Cute from Above!

Ilandra, alone in recognising the raccoon hanging above them, carried
on walking with the rest of the group. Jebodiah and the
heroic-looking young man passed underneath with barely a glance up, and
Nyano did little to refute their opinion that he was just a wild animal.

Until, that is, Cain and Ilandra passed underneath…

Nyano-Sgiathatch

With a despairing wail of “CAAAAAIIIIINE!” Nyano dives out of his branch to land in front of the ambling prince.

He collapses in a heap and starts sobbing.

“I think I killed someone!”

Ilandra

Glaring at Cain, then at Nyano for a few seconds then back at Cain.

Biting down her temper she asked.

“How do you mean you think you killed someone? You either did or you didn't.” she seemed perplexed.

Nyano-Sgiathatch

Nyano looks over at the scary catgirl and cries harder.

“I guess I did, it was all so quick.”

He shuffles up closer to Caine.

“I came through the border and my head hurt, so I got the guards to come nearby to show them that there was barrier thing”

Nyano is talking really quickly, as if he wants to get this off his chest.

“and then I went through it again, and I passed out. When I came to,
one of the soliders had tried to come through the barrier, and he was
bleeding through his ears.”

The Raccoon pauses for a moment to sob into his arm.

“We buried him an hour later.”

Then he pretty much gives up on the concept of intelligle speech and just hugs Caine's leg and sobs.

Ilandra

Carefully peeling the crying raccoon from Cain's leg, she hugs him,
stroking his head for a few moments, whispering soothing words.

“It'll be ok, you'll see… Tell you what, I'll tell Duke Hyacinth off
for the nasty barrier and make him apologise to you for all the pain
he's caused you.” she said, soothingly.

Nyano-Sgiathatch

After a little care the distraught raccoon quietens down and hugs the suddenly not scary cat girl that was being nice to him.

“I think his name was Jenkins.”

Ilandra

“OK, well when we get to the castle we'll give the good-for-nothing
meanie what for…” she said reassuringly. “And then he'll probably
apologise to you for it…”

Nyano-Sgiathatch

Nyano wriggles about in Illandra's arms until his head is at her eye level.

“You think he will? Are we going there now?”

Ilandra

“Yes, but I have no idea where we are right now or when we'll be
getting there… Cain knows… and so does Jebodiah… but I've never
really been anywhere that isn't poppy or honeysuckle lands for a long
time…” she said. “As to whether he'll apologise. Well he'll have to!”

Nyano-Sgiathatch

Nyano's eyes narrow.

“Oh he'll apologise alright. Putting a barrier like that up without telling his neighbours is unforgivable.”

Ilandra

Ilandra gently lowered the raccoon to the ground.

“Sorry, I can't carry you for too long… my arms hurt a bit.” she
said, careful not to mention the fact pretty much all of her hurt due
to a hangover. “Are you OK to walk or would you like me to see if Mr
Hawthorn is willing to carry you?”

Nyano-Sgiathatch

Nyano sets his feet determinedly on the ground.

“I can walk, it'll be fine.”

Ilandra

Ilandra nodded and they carried on their way to the palace.

“Nyano, why are you in Hyacinth lands? Did Regara send you or something?” Ilandra asked after a while.

Nyano-Sgiathatch

Nyano walks steadfastly on as he answers.

“There was a messenger. He said that they'd seen someone who looked like my father in Castle Hyacinth.”

Storyteller

“So,” said Jebodiah, sensing the lull in conversation and turning back
to the nobles. “This… r'coon? E's a friend'a yours?”

Ilandra

“You could say that, yes.” Ilandra answered. “He's more of a friend of
Cain's than mine really. Nyano, this is Jebodiah. Jebodiah, this is
Nyano.”

Nyano-Sgiathatch

“Pleased to meet you!” Nyano tries to give a winning smile, but his heart just isn't in it. “So what do you do?”

Storyteller

“Right now?” Jebodiah asked. “We're going to have a word with the
Duke. I was, and I suppose still am, an ordinary man of a village
called Wheat Down. After our little Ducal chat… Who knows
what will happen.”

Ilandra

“Oooh it's just like that story! With the girl and the dog!” Ilandra
said, excitedly. “Only there's no scarecrow or metal guy…”

Nyano-Sgiathatch

“A girl and a dog?” says Nyano, he turns to look at Jebodiah “Do you… Do you work in a pet shop?”

Storyteller

“Now what makes you think that I would work in a pet shop?” asked Jebodiah.

Did you just hear that crumbling sound? I'm sure there used to be a fourth wall over there somewhere…

Nyano-Sgiathatch

“Well my father always told me never to judge by appearances.”

Oh please can Nyano's father be Prince Phil?

Storyteller

“So it's better to assume someone works in a pet shop for no reason?”

Alright then =p Big burly man, or big burly raccoon?

Nyano-Sgiathatch

“I wasn't assuming! I'll have you know I was asking. What's wrong with working in a pet shop anyway?”

Nyano looks indignant.

Burly Raccoon. Burly man would be disturbing.

Storyteller

“Er, nowt, I s'pose,” mumbled Jebodiah, seemingly caught off guard by
his surreal exchange with the raccoon. “Oi'm a bit too old ta' be
workin' all 'time, so no, Oi don' work in a pet shop.